PRESERVE THE SHANGHAINESE CULTURE.
PRESERVE THE SHANGHAINESE CULTURE. Sometimes I ask myself where the hell all this culture goes... It seems the rapid development in Shanghai has occured too fast and too suddenly, putting to much effort on modernaization and turning a blind side on whats truly Shanghainese. Just the thing that the local dialect is slowly dying out makes me all sad inside, but at the same time it gives me willpower and desire, an inside wish and want to preserve what is perhaps the most magnificent part of this city.
The other day when I was taking my usual stroll down Hua Shan Lu, I spotted this small treasure trove full of vintage 30's objects from Shanghai (Shanghaitique, Rd No: 699). A lovely piece of a lovely culture, a culture that deserves more than hard-to-find-small-shops-you-never-hear-about, if you see what I mean. There should be a museum completely dedicated to the Shanghainese culture, more restaurants and cafés trying the preserve that old vintage feeling, a museum about Shikumen lanes, and fashion brands with influences and inspiration from old times. I know this is already being done to some degree, but it is not given its worthy attention.
Go Shanghainese!
The other day when I was taking my usual stroll down Hua Shan Lu, I spotted this small treasure trove full of vintage 30's objects from Shanghai (Shanghaitique, Rd No: 699). A lovely piece of a lovely culture, a culture that deserves more than hard-to-find-small-shops-you-never-hear-about, if you see what I mean. There should be a museum completely dedicated to the Shanghainese culture, more restaurants and cafés trying the preserve that old vintage feeling, a museum about Shikumen lanes, and fashion brands with influences and inspiration from old times. I know this is already being done to some degree, but it is not given its worthy attention.
Go Shanghainese!
SUFFER WITH THE SHANGHAINESE.
SUFFER WITH THE SHANGHAINESE. It may seem strange for a white Swedish guy like me to write a post like this, but occasionally I feel like there's Shanghainese blood pumping in my veins. Since my first arrival in this fascinating city almost 2 years ago, I've learned so much and gotten involved more deeply in the history and culture of this city than I could ever imagine. And - to be honest - I do suffer with the Shanghainese. The history of this city is not only sparkling and glamorous, it covers yet a dark side full of violence, blood and injustice. After I got familiar with Shanghai's turbulent, yet touching story, I could finally understand some of the real reasons to why Shanghainese people dont like the rest of China.
During the 1920's and 1930's, Shanghai had its grand era and was globally well-known as the "New York Of The East". The city was flourishing with a prospering business climate, and was the first Chinese city to become industrialized with the help of foreigners. However, the Americans and Europeans had since way back divided Shanghai into 2 parts, West and East, and the indigenous population wasn't commonly allowed to enter the West part. Strong discrimination was a daily fact the Shanghainese people had to live with, something other cities in China never experienced to the same degree. The Westerners, or "Shanghailanders" as they referred to themselves, felt like they were kings over China, and Shanghai was their precious palace. After Saturday brunches in the French Concession, the socialites enjoyed grey-hound racing at the old Canidrome where they later on danced waltz in the ballroom to the performances of American jazz artist Buck Clayton. After that, the gentlemen moved on to 'The Correspondent's Club' at the Bund to enjoy some fresh drinks and pure mantalk. Meanwhile, the local Shanghainese people sat huddled in their narrow Shikumens, waiting for the next strenous day of hard-working.
Then all hell broke loose when the cold-bloody nazi bastards from Japan invaded and bombed the city. After the Battle Of Shanghai in 1937, the city was occupied by the Japanese and remained in their possession until 1945. Both Shanghainese people and higher officials were tortured, killed, murdered and assasinated during this period. Following the aftermath of World War II, most foreign firms in Shanghai moved their offices to Hong Kong, and therefore the city saw the end of its previos grand era.
Things got even worse in 1949, when the People's Liberation Army marched into the city. Yet again, Shanghainese people were tortured, killed, murdered and assasinated. The communists gained control over the workers and executed the socialite in a bloody manner.
Although Shanghai suffered from this, the city was still able to maintain high economic productivity and relative social stability. Regardless, the city was utterly poor. During the 60's, 70's and 80's, Shanghai was the largest contributor of tax revenue to the central government in Beijing (In contrast to other cities such as Guangzhou where they almost paid no tax at all). The whole country had suffered from the Cultural Revolution, and Shanghai was the only city capable of keeping the government standing through their massive tax revenue. This came at the cost of severely crippling Shanghai's infrastructure, capital and artistic development.
Shanghai was among the last Chinese large cities to gain permission to initiate economic reforms. While other Chinese cities would benefit from economic freedom during the 80's, Shanghai finally got their permit in 1991. A new era started, and during the following 10 years Shanghai would transform back into a global city at incredible speed. Yet again, this would come at the cost of crippling the small piece of Shanghainese culture that was still left. Today, Shanghai is a showpiece of China's booming economy and widely considered as being the next global finance hub and international shipping center of the world. The average size of a family in Shanghai had declined to fewer than three people during the last decade, and it is clear that most of Shanghai’s population growth is driven by migration rather than natural factors based on high birth and fertility rates.
Now, to the basic question everyone has been waiting for. Why do Chinese people dislike Shanghainese people, and the other way around? After reading this blog post I hope you can get a somewhat sense in your mind about what kind of answer I'm aiming for. If you dont, I suggest you read it again. It is namely clear that the Shanghainese people have suffered from strong injustice during the last 100 years. They say Shanghainese people are arrogant and only care about money... Well, remember WHO made them like that. This view of Shanghainese people is simply a tragic verdict created out of pure jealousy and fatuity. Actually, the reason why Shanghainese people dont like other Chinese people, is because Chinese people dont like them - not the other way around originally.
Shanghainese, be proud of yourselves and your city. Because I am.
Shanghai 1990>2010
During the 1920's and 1930's, Shanghai had its grand era and was globally well-known as the "New York Of The East". The city was flourishing with a prospering business climate, and was the first Chinese city to become industrialized with the help of foreigners. However, the Americans and Europeans had since way back divided Shanghai into 2 parts, West and East, and the indigenous population wasn't commonly allowed to enter the West part. Strong discrimination was a daily fact the Shanghainese people had to live with, something other cities in China never experienced to the same degree. The Westerners, or "Shanghailanders" as they referred to themselves, felt like they were kings over China, and Shanghai was their precious palace. After Saturday brunches in the French Concession, the socialites enjoyed grey-hound racing at the old Canidrome where they later on danced waltz in the ballroom to the performances of American jazz artist Buck Clayton. After that, the gentlemen moved on to 'The Correspondent's Club' at the Bund to enjoy some fresh drinks and pure mantalk. Meanwhile, the local Shanghainese people sat huddled in their narrow Shikumens, waiting for the next strenous day of hard-working.
Then all hell broke loose when the cold-bloody nazi bastards from Japan invaded and bombed the city. After the Battle Of Shanghai in 1937, the city was occupied by the Japanese and remained in their possession until 1945. Both Shanghainese people and higher officials were tortured, killed, murdered and assasinated during this period. Following the aftermath of World War II, most foreign firms in Shanghai moved their offices to Hong Kong, and therefore the city saw the end of its previos grand era.
Things got even worse in 1949, when the People's Liberation Army marched into the city. Yet again, Shanghainese people were tortured, killed, murdered and assasinated. The communists gained control over the workers and executed the socialite in a bloody manner.
Although Shanghai suffered from this, the city was still able to maintain high economic productivity and relative social stability. Regardless, the city was utterly poor. During the 60's, 70's and 80's, Shanghai was the largest contributor of tax revenue to the central government in Beijing (In contrast to other cities such as Guangzhou where they almost paid no tax at all). The whole country had suffered from the Cultural Revolution, and Shanghai was the only city capable of keeping the government standing through their massive tax revenue. This came at the cost of severely crippling Shanghai's infrastructure, capital and artistic development.
Shanghai was among the last Chinese large cities to gain permission to initiate economic reforms. While other Chinese cities would benefit from economic freedom during the 80's, Shanghai finally got their permit in 1991. A new era started, and during the following 10 years Shanghai would transform back into a global city at incredible speed. Yet again, this would come at the cost of crippling the small piece of Shanghainese culture that was still left. Today, Shanghai is a showpiece of China's booming economy and widely considered as being the next global finance hub and international shipping center of the world. The average size of a family in Shanghai had declined to fewer than three people during the last decade, and it is clear that most of Shanghai’s population growth is driven by migration rather than natural factors based on high birth and fertility rates.
Now, to the basic question everyone has been waiting for. Why do Chinese people dislike Shanghainese people, and the other way around? After reading this blog post I hope you can get a somewhat sense in your mind about what kind of answer I'm aiming for. If you dont, I suggest you read it again. It is namely clear that the Shanghainese people have suffered from strong injustice during the last 100 years. They say Shanghainese people are arrogant and only care about money... Well, remember WHO made them like that. This view of Shanghainese people is simply a tragic verdict created out of pure jealousy and fatuity. Actually, the reason why Shanghainese people dont like other Chinese people, is because Chinese people dont like them - not the other way around originally.
Shanghainese, be proud of yourselves and your city. Because I am.
Shanghai 1990>2010
